Hay-loader coupling



P. H. GONNBR. HAY LOADER coUPLINe.

' Patented Sept. 28, 1897.

1 r: Nonms Frans co. Imm-ammo.. wAsnlNsTaN n c UNITED STATES -ATnNT Prien.

HAY-LOADER COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,614), dated September 28, 1897.

Application tiled January 20, 1897. Y Serial No. 619,963. (No model.)

To all whom, it may con/cern.'

Beit known that I, PATRICK H. OONNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monticello, in the county of Jones and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Hay- Loader Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved device for connecting a hay-loader to the wagon the same; Fig. 2, an enlarged perspective of the coupling, showing it detached from the loader; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of the coupling.

The reference-numeral 1 indicates the hayloader, which may be of any construction or form and which is carried by the wheels 2.

3 indicates thelusual tongue with which hay-loaders are provided, the purpose of which is to facilitate the connection of the hay-loader to the wagon 4.

5 indicates the coupling, which consists of a base-plate 6, provided at its rear end with the lug 7 and at its middle with an upwardly and forwardly projecting portion 8, having the side plates 9 rigidly secured thereto or formed integral therewith, preferably the latter.A The front end of the plate 6 is bifurcated t-o form the arms 1Q, between which the hook 11 is pivoted. The hook 11 is shaped as a bell-crank and is pivoted between the arms 1.0 at its elbow, its arm a being provided with a beveled end, while the end of the arm b is square. Formed in the portion 8, directly adjacent to the plate 6, is the recess 12, which is adapted for the reception of the block 13.

The block 13 fits snugly within the recess 12 and has connected to it the rod 14, which proceeds rearwardly through the opening 15 of the part S and through' the vopening 16 of the lug 7 to a point a short distance rearward of the coupling. The rear end of the rod 14 is pivotally connected to the lower arm of the lever 17, which is fulcrumed to the haying on the loaded wagon.A The loader and which liasiits upper end or arm connected to the cord 18. The cord 18 proceeds upwardly tothe upper end of the'loader, so that it can be reached by a person standpurpose of this will be hereinafter described.

Rigidly secured to each'of .the arms 10 is the vertically-extending studl 19. These studs are transversely alined and are provided to prevent excessive forward movement of the block 13. The block 13 is given a tendency forward by means of the spring 20, which is made to embrace the rod 14 and to pass through they opening 15 of the forwardly-extending portion S, while its rear end bears against the lug 7. By these means the block 13 is kept up against the studs 19.

Fixed to the wagon 4 and projecting rearwardly therefrom is the rigid clevis 21, which is arranged on a line with the hook 11, so that when the loader and wagon are made to engage the clevis will pass between t-he plate 6 and the overhanging port-ion of the extension 8. The normal position of the hook 11 is with its arm a horizontal and under the block 13 and with its arm Z9 vertical, so that it will hold the clevis 21, as shown in Fig. 1.

Supposing now that the wagon 4 has been loaded and that it is desired to detach the loader 1 therefrom, the hand on the wagon should reach to the cord 18 and pull the same, which will rock lever 17 and draw rod 14 rearwardly, thus similarly moving the block 13 and making it possible for the hook 11 to swing on its fulcrum, so as to throw thearm b horizontal and the arm ct vertical. This will release the clevis 4 and consequently disconnect the two machines. rThen it is desired to again connect the two parts, all that will be necessary is to back the wagon against.

the coupling and so that the clevis -21 will engage the vertically-extending arm a of the hook l1. This will rock the hook 11 and cause the beveled end of the arm a to engage the block 13 and push thepsame rearwardly until it is .possible for the said arm to pass below the block, thus securing the arm b in a vertical position and locking the clevis 21 to the coupling'. i

My invention is especially useful in that it is unnecessary when using it for the farmhand who is engaged in loading or trimming IOO the hay on the wagon -to descend from the load in disconnecting the loader. To effect this, all 11e has to do is to draw on the oord 1S, which will result in the uncoupling operation, as explained above.

It will be observed that owin g to the downwardly and rearwardly inclined front edges of the plates 9 the elevis 2l upon engagement with the coupling is forced down against the plate 6, thus insuring the effective engagement of the arm a and bleek 13 and consequent connection of the coupling.

Various changes in the size, proportion, and arrangement of the parts of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the substance thereof. Therefore I desire it understood that I am not restricted to the precise Construction herein shown, but am entitled to all sneh Variations as come within the above definition.

Having described my invention, I Claim- The combination in a coupling to Connect hayloaders to wagons, of a base-plate see ured to the loader and provided with a bifureated front end and an upwardly and forwardly projecting extension, a bell-crank-shaped hook fulerumed between the arms of the bifureated front end to swing in a vertical direction, a spring-actuated bloeli slidably supported on the base-plate and adapted to engage one arm oi said hook and hold it in a horizontal position and the other arm in a vertical position to engage a clevis on the wagon, stops on said forwardly-projecting arms of the base-plate to limit the forward movement of said block, and a oord connected to the sliding block and extending to the npper portion of the loader, by means of which the block may be moved ont of engagement with the hook, substantially as described.

` In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PATRICK II. CONNER.

\Vitnesscs:

O. R. RICKER, Il. (l. BOHLKIN. 

